Ностромо
Chapter 4
Mostofthewoundedduringthetwodaysofriotinghadbeentakenawayalreadybytheirfriendsandrelations,butseveralfigurescouldbeseensittingupbalancingtheirbandagedheadsintimetothemusic.CharlesGoulddismounted.Asleepymozocomingoutofthebakerydoortookholdofthehorse’sbridle;thepracticanteendeavouredtoconcealhisguitarhastily;thegirls,unabashed,steppedbacksmiling;andCharlesGould,onhiswaytothestaircase,glancedintoadarkcornerofthepatioatanothergroup,amortallywoundedCargadorwithawomankneelingbyhisside;shemumbledprayersrapidly,tryingatthesametimetoforceapieceoforangebetweenthestiffeninglipsofthedyingman.
Thecruelfutilityofthingsstoodunveiledinthelevityandsufferingsofthatincorrigiblepeople;thecruelfutilityoflivesandofdeathsthrownawayinthevainendeavourtoattainanenduringsolutionoftheproblem.UnlikeDecoud,CharlesGouldcouldnotplaylightlyapartinatragicfarce.Itwastragicenoughforhiminallconscience,buthecouldseenofarcicalelement.Hesufferedtoomuchunderaconvictionofirremediablefolly.Hewastooseverelypracticalandtooidealistictolookuponitsterriblehumourswithamusement,asMartinDecoud,theimaginativematerialist,wasabletodointhedrylightofhisscepticism.Tohim,astoallofus,thecompromiseswithhisconscienceappeareduglierthaneverinthelightoffailure.
